ACHOO syndrome
ACHOO may be one of the best acronyms for a physiologic condition I’ve ever seen. It stands for Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst. The ACHOO syndrome refers to the inherited trait of sneezing when you are suddenly exposed to bright light (like walking outside into bright sunlight). It’s also called photoptarmosis (from the Greek phōs, “light” and ptarmós, “sneeze”)
Interesting trivia about the ACHOO syndrome
- It affects 18-25% of the population
- Aristotle wrote about it in his Book of Problems
- It’s probably caused by a minor cross wiring between the Trigeminal and Optic nerves
El Niño
Today’s New York Times had an informative (and somewhat scary) article about the weather phenomenon called “El Niño”.
El Niño is the name given to powerful shifts in Pacific Ocean winds and water temperatures that can drastically transform global weather patterns. Over the centuries these natural patterns have sparked epic droughts and heat waves, and have intensified epidemics.
NY Times
Yikes.
If you want more information, sign up for NOAA’s monthly “diagnostic discussion” here.
#CallFood Granola
I cooked this recipe for the first time this week and, in keeping with my promise to add more topics to support students, residents, and busy docs, decided it was worth sharing. Start with the basic recipe and then change it to your taste (I’m adding some whole almonds and cashews next time).
Take a bag of this granola with you when you are on call to mix with yogurt – or just grab handfuls when you need some healthy calories.
p.s. I substituted olive oil for the vegetable oil which was delicious and probably a little healthier
p.p.s. If you do the math, this is incredibly cheap compared to commercially made granola, granola bars, or other grain based snacks
p.p.p.s I have used #CallFood for years on social media (Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram) as a hashtag for recipes that don’t take long to cook, taste great, and are healthy (In case you are looking for more suggestions.)